Vickie Chapman to become SA’s first female deputy premier

VICKIE Chapman will on Monday take on a role no woman has held before when she is sworn in as the state’s first female deputy premier.

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VICKIE Chapman will on Monday take on a role no woman has held before when she is sworn in as the state’s first female deputy premier.

The long-serving Liberal MP will also be South Australia’s first female attorney-general.

And over the next four years, she will likely add acting premier to the list of firsts if Liberal leader and Premier-elect Steven Marshall takes a holiday or embarks on an overseas trade mission.

Ms Chapman said she was “immensely proud” to pave the way for other women.

“It reinforces to all those that might be looking to a career in the political world that these positions are equally open to women,” she said.

“At the end of the day we want to see diversity in leadership positions.”

Ms Chapman plans to use her position to push for greater transparency in government through legislation to allow the Independent Commission Against Corruption to hold some open hearings, and introduce protections for government whistleblowers.

She also wants to toughen powers to detain young drug addicts for mandatory treatment and crack down on violent domestic abusers who repeatedly breach court orders meant to protect their victims.

Vickie Chapman, second from left, with members of the Neighbourhood Watch program at the Warrego Cresent Reserve — Debbie Foreman, Crystal Wan and daughter Anna 3 and Garry Humphires. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“Another key issue is the women who are out there carrying the load on care of children, management of health issues, providing support to the elderly. Those are areas which need critical services,” she said.

“We want to give families the support that they need ... and to strengthen families.

“The best thing we can do for (affordable) childcare is make sure those businesses get some real relief from payroll tax, from land tax. These are the things that are holding back secure care for our children aged under four.”

A mother of two sons and grandmother to four girls, Ms Chapman lamented that SA’s “greatest export” of late had been its young people.

“That has to turn around. I’d like to see my granddaughters have a future in South Australia,” she said.

If current vote counts hold, the Liberals are expected to have up to four women in the Lower House of Parliament when it resumes, compared with six for Labor.

Jennifer Rankine and Leesa Vlahos bowed out for Labor at this election, while former Liberal leader Isobel Redmond, who missed out on becoming the state’s first female premier at the 2010 election, has retired.

Her number will be replaced by new Liberal MP for Elder Carolyn Habib, who took the seat from Labor’s Annabel Digance.

Rachel Sanderson is fighting to hold the electorate of Adelaide for the Liberals after scrutineers reportedly discovered an error in counting late Monday.

Paula Luethen appears likely to edge out Labor in the new northeast suburbs seat of King.

Ms Chapman said she would continue to mentor more women to seek Liberal preselection and challenge for safe seats.

“Someone like Carolyn Habib had a dry run and learned the bitter experience of politics. She dusted off and went in there for the fight second time around,” she said.

First elected to the foothills seat of Bragg in 2002, Ms Chapman has held portfolios as diverse as child protection, substance abuse, transport, water, population and housing.

She was first made deputy Liberal leader in March 2006, until July 2009.

She was appointed to the role again in February 2013 and has held it since.

Ms Chapman “totally” ruled out any future push to be leader of the party or premier.